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Wasp repellent plant


10 plants to keep pests away |

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Planting wasp repellent plants is a simple but very effective way to keep these pests at bay. Not only will they fill your yard with spectacular color and seasonal interest but their powerful fragrance, while largely appealing to us, is a strong deterrent for these irritating insects.

From cheerful marigolds, chic eucalyptus to creeping pennyroyal, many of these are everyday garden plants and useful herbs. Perfect for incorporating into flavor-packed dishes, drinks, and healing remedies, they can prove hugely beneficial to us and highly deserving of a prime place in our backyards, plus they're great for getting rid of wasps.

Pot them in as flower bed ideas in containers, hanging baskets and window boxes and position them at key point around your yard and home. Surround your outdoor eating and cooking area with containerized herb garden ideas such as basil, mint, thyme and lemongrass and enjoy the convenience of having not only fresh ingredients to hand but a natural wasp deterrent too. A low planter or two at the center of your outdoor dining ideas will afford you peace and calm while you dine in a wasp free zone.

Best wasp repellent plants

Harness the natural power and beauty of these wasp repellent plants so you can sit back and relax undisturbed in your yard this summer.

1. Wormwood

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The charm of wormwood or Artemisia may appear to lie in its fine silver, feathery foliage but did you know that wasps simply can’t stand its astringent scent? 

Easy and quick to grow in a sunny, well-draining spot, it’s perfect for surrounding your deck or keeping wasps away from your porch. 

Reaching heights of around 2ft (60cm) and with a spread of 3ft (90cm) this hardy perennial forms attractive mounds. It can loose leaves over winter during particularly cold spells but will shoot again the following spring. 

Parts of the plant have been used to create the liquor Absinthe but is more commonly known for treating various digestive problems.

2. Mint and spearmint

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Adored by most but hated by wasps, the heady fragrance of fresh mint is hard to beat for sheer summer charm. 

Sun and part shade loving, there are many different varieties to grow, each with their own subtle flavor and characteristics. Peppermint and spearmint are two of the strongest mints so are well worth growing to keep wasps at bay. 

These herbs will shoot in spring, to reach around 3ft (1m) before dying back to ground level in fall. 

One word of warning from the expert gardening team at Crocus , ‘Initially upright, the stems become lax as they grow, and begin to root where they touch the ground, so in time large clumps will be formed. If you prefer to keep them under control, it is best to grow mint in large pots or containers.’

3. Common thyme 

(Image credit: Melanie Griffiths)

It’s hard to believe that the ground-hugging, billowy cushions of thyme are disliked by wasps.  

Covered in a mass of tiny white, pink or purple flowers during late spring and summer, this hardy aromatic herb is happy growing in most sunny positions with well drained soil. 

Most types of thyme – of which there are over 300 varieties – are happy in USDA zones 5-9 but they do dislike wet and humid environments. Growing thyme in containers is a great way to keep them happy, and near to areas that wasps are attracted to.

It’s also worth knowing that the strongest flavor and scent is held in the young, fresh leaves. So, for the most reliable wasp deterrent, reach for the shears and snip off any old, leggy growth.

4. Marigolds

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Both French and American marigolds possess a strong spicy scent that keep wasps well away. Together with their bold orange-red blooms and reliable nature, they need very little attention and are ideal for planting around borders and crops that are also vulnerable to pests and aphids.  

A tender annual, these readily available plants are happiest in sun and will thrive during the warmer months across UDSA Zones 2-11. You can grow marigolds from seed, and keep them flowering – and repelling wasps – for longer by deadheading regularly.

5. Eucalyptus

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Rub or crumble a silvery eucalyptus leaf and you can’t fail to notice the immediate heady burst of menthol. Often used as a decongestant, it’s these powerful essential oils that also keep wasps and many other insects away. Cut branches of eucalyptus can keep insects out of the house, too. 

An Australian native, these trees love their roots in free draining but rich or poor soil and their heads in the sun. They do grow large – in excess of 40ft (12m) – and quickly too – up to 3ft (1m) in a year while they are young, but you can prune them hard to reduce their size and promote fresh, fragrant growth. They are also successful in containers. 

Choose one that is at least 2ft (61cm) in diameter and be prepared to upsize in a few years. If planting direct in the ground the gardening experts at RHS do advise, ‘With larger-growing species, plant them well away from buildings, as they can dry out the soil, especially heavy clay.’

6. Geranium

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Ever noticed that bright, bold and beautiful scented and ivy-leaf geraniums have an instantly recognizable smell? Known for its energizing effect, the unmistakable fragrance is released as soon as leaves are brushed past or when in a particularly warm and sunny spot. 

Wasps with their super sensitive sense of smell simply can’t abide it and according to the Experimental Perfume Club this is likely due to the chemicals in the oil. ‘The well-known molecules found within geranium oil are citronellol, nerol, geraniol and linalool – many molecules shared with rose and which explains why they carry a similar scent profile!’

Grown as half hardy annuals in zone 9 and below, these plants will flower endlessly through out the summer months and can be seen in wall hung pots, hanging containers and cascading out of window boxes. Deadhead regularly to prolong the show, and learn how to overwinter geraniums to enjoy them again next year.

7. Lemongrass

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Lucky enough to live in USDA zones 9-11 or warmer climes? Then you can add growing lemongrass to your list of wasp repellent plants. 

Coming from the sunshine, humidity and warmth of Sri Lanka and southern India this tropical plant has a reviving citrus fragrance that is guaranteed to keep wasps well away. In these zones you can leave lemongrass in the ground all year round – just adding a little mulch for protection in zone 9.

If you live in zone 8 or below, and you are still keen to give this plant a go, then you will have to lift and store the plant indoors over winter.

8. Basil

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‘As humans, we may enjoy the aroma of basil in a rich tomato sauce, but bees and wasps are put off by the fragrance,’ say Ehrlich Pest Control . 

You can grow basil from seed, indoors and out. For best results, sow seeds at regular intervals throughout spring and summer. 

Basil requires constant heat to grow and dislikes sitting in wet compost, where if left it will quickly rot. The soft and tasty leaves also scorch very easily so make sure your crop is positioned out of direct sun. 

Harvest individual leaves by picking them off, rather snipping several plants with scissors, as this will promote fresh, new growth. And learn how to prune basil at the right time to prolong its life.

9. Pennyroyal 

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This vigorous and mat forming plant, gives off a strong mentha scent that, when crushed, wasps and many other insects, just can’t stand. Covered with distinctive whorls of lilac in mid-summer it thrives in poor soil and moist conditions but does have the habit of spreading relentlessly. It remains hardy down to 5 to -4℉ (-15 to -20℃).

There are two main types to choose from: European and American Pennyroyal, with the former having the stronger perfume. Leading herb grower and expert Jekka McVicar also suggests to ‘Rub crushed leaves onto mosquito bites to remove the swelling and irritation.’

10. Citronella

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Largely known as an insect repelling candle or oil, citronella is a scented pelargonium with rather attractive pink-purple flowers. 

An evergreen, large branching shrub it reaches heights of 5ft (1.5m) and has tooth-edged foliage that smells strongly of lemon.

Hardy in zone 8 through 12, it requires well-draining soil, full sun and thrives happily in open borders and planters.

What is the best plant to keep wasps away?

There are many strongly scented plants that wasps just can’t stand. These include many herbs such as mint, basil, lemongrass, thyme and bay. Some fruits such as cucumber have the same effect but for more decorative deterrents try flowers such as marigolds, geraniums and beautiful foliage including silvery grey eucalyptus and wormwood.

Bear in mind that many wasp repellent plants make for great mosquito repellent plants, too.

How do I keep wasps away from my patio?

Discover some of the aromatic and flowering plants dislike and enjoy growing them around your outdoor living room.

Some of the best plants for hanging baskets and wall top planters can repel wasps: from tumbling ivy to scented leaf geraniums – those with red blooms are meant to be particularly effective.

Pots of aromatic herbs – think thyme, basil and mint are ideal for lining up next to the outdoor grill station or outdoor kitchen. Not only will they help protect the chef from pesky wasps but pep up meat, salad dishes and summery drinks too.

Fill surrounding borders with billowing cushions of silver wormwood and pockets of punchy marigolds to create a stunning fragrant border that wasps will stay away from.

Jill Morgan has spent the last 20 years writing for Interior and Gardening magazines both in print and online. Titles she has been lucky enough to work on include House Beautiful, The English

Home, Ideal Home, Modern Gardens and Gardeningetc.com. Although much of her career has involved commissioning and writing about reader homes and home improvement projects, her

everlasting passion is for gardens and outdoor living, which is what she writes about for Homes & Gardens. 

Plants That Repel Wasps | INSECTCOP

Wasps are crucial parts of a healthy ecosystem. They control pest insects and pollinate flowers. However, they are also known for their disagreeable habit of stinging people, some of whom are allergic to wasp venom. Their attraction to sugary substances makes them unwelcome guests at picnics and around garbage bins, where they may sting in defense of their food. For these reasons, some people may wish to keep them away.

They are so useful, though, that killing them is not advised. Here, we will cover several plants you can use to repel wasps. Because, if you make your yard or garden unattractive to wasps, they will simply find a different place to nest and hunt.

There aren’t many plants that repel wasps, simply because wasps are pollinators, so many plants produce substances that attract, rather than repel.

However, naturally-repellent plants do exist and include mint, wormwood, lemongrass, citronella, clove, pennyroyal, sage, rosemary, geranium, chamomile, thyme, fennel, wintergreen, and sweet marjoram. Cucumber peels may also repel wasps.

If you want to kill wasps naturally, insectivorous plants will do the trick. We will also cover plants that are advertised to repel wasps but don’t, including eucalyptus, basil, and marigolds.

Naturally-repellent plants

Of the plants that keep wasps away, research has only determined how some of them work. The repellent properties of plants lie primarily in their oils.

Essential oils of spearmint, peppermint, and ginger mint (Mentha arvensis) have been shown scientifically to repel yellow jackets and paper wasps. As have those of the plants mentioned above. Create your own homemade wasp repellent.  

In peppermint oil, this may be due to the presence of the chemical menthone, which also repels yellow jackets and paper wasps.

American wintergreen (Gaultheria procumbens) contains the chemical methyl salicylate, another repellent chemical. In fact, methyl salicylate is responsible for the scent of wintergreen, a scent that resembles that of some mint plants. So, if you’re wondering what scents repel wasps, minty ones are a safe bet.

While wormwood oil kills worms and insects, which explains why wasps would avoid it.

In a study, mixtures of essential oils were found to work better than individual oils. The best mixtures for repelling yellow jackets and paper wasps were clove, geranium and lemongrass as well as clove, geranium, lemongrass and rosemary.

So, while the wasp repellent plants themselves will not be as strong as the concentrated oils tested in the studies, they will still help and should be cultivated in areas where wasp activity is unwanted.

5PH/Shutterstock.com

Cucumber peels

Spreading cucumber peels around may keep pests, including wasps, ants, silverfish, mites, and moths out of certain areas.

Though this property has not been scientifically tested, it is likely due to a bitter chemical within cucumbers called cucurbitacins. In insects that feed on vegetation and detritus, cucurbitacins deter both feeding and egg-laying, which suggests the potential for true repellent properties.

Insectivorous plants

There are three general categories of carnivorous plants: Venus flytraps, pitcher plants and sundews.

They are all capable of devouring wasps. However, they are indiscriminate feeders. Some are even large enough to eat other animals, such as frogs. So, be aware that if you plant carnivorous vegetation, it will eat other insects and maybe even some birds, reptiles, and amphibians.

Non-repellent plants

Finally, in your research, you may run across articles stating that eucalyptus, basil, and marigold are also natural wasp repellants. However, social wasps have been collected from eucalyptus plantations and solitary parasitic wasps have been used to save eucalyptus trees in California from an insect called the eucalyptus long-horned borer.

In addition, one basil species, far from repelling wasps, is especially attractive to them. The flowers of the African blue basil, a cross between the East Asian camphor basil (Ocimum kilimandscharicum) and the common sweet basil (O. basilicum), are favored by pollinators, including wasps. While the camphor basil produces insecticidal substances, these are produced in the leaves as a defense mechanism against herbivores, not in the flowers where pollinators may be harmed.

Marigolds are also known for their attractiveness to pollinators, including wasps, bees, and butterflies.

Conclusion

Despite the benefits wasps provide to our gardens and the planet as a whole, they can become nuisance pests, especially to those with bee and wasp allergies. Here, we present several non-lethal options for controlling wasp populations in your yard or garden (plants that deter wasps, cucumber peels) as well as one lethal option (carnivorous plants). And we also dispel some myths about plants purported to be wasp repellents that may end up attracting them instead.

We hope that this guide proves useful to those hoping to keep wasps away from their patios this summer.

7 Plants That Repel Wasps Naturally

Home / Custom / 7 Plants That Naturally Repel Wasps

Like bees and bumblebees, wasps fly to flowers to feed on pollen.

Published by: admin in Custom 09/11/2022 0 118 Views

Most people prefer to see wasps only from afar. After all, insects are known to spoil every breakfast on the balcony or terrace. If they feel irritated, they will sometimes stab you, which is quite painful. With the right plants, you can naturally keep wasps at bay.

Like bees, bumblebees or butterflies, wasps also fly from flower to flower, feeding on pollen and nectar. This makes it clear that even if we see them as more of a nuisance, wasps are useful animals. Because when biting pollen, something always sticks to insects and is transferred to the next flower. Good to know: While some flowers are particularly attractive, you can also keep wasps away with the right plants. What is it about?

1. Geranium
Do not drive away wasps: geraniums will do it for you.

Wasps can easily do without the intense smell of fragrant geranium. When the flower arrived in Europe in 1690, it was reserved for the nobility and the wealthy. Today, every amateur gardener can plant bright red or delicate white flowers in their own garden or on their balcony. It is important that they are in a sunny location.

2. Mint
Although mint should be in a bright place, the plant does not tolerate direct sunlight.

Most people are familiar with the smell of fresh mint. After all, not only flowers, but also mint leaves smell very freshly of menthol. Wasps, on the other hand, do not like this intense smell, and they avoid the plant.

Advantage: the plant can be grown not only in the garden, but also in a bucket, eg on a terrace or balcony. An important care measure is regular watering of mint, especially on hot days.

3. Marigold
Wild bees love marigolds, but wasps do not.

Calendula is valued in medicine. But the flower is also extremely useful for repelling pesky insects. In keeping with the bright orange flowers, the plant prefers a sunny spot in the garden. If marigolds get enough water, nothing prevents them from long and healthy flowering.

4. Tomatoes
Some varieties of tomatoes can be grown on the balcony.

Amateur gardeners may know this: if you tend to tomatoes in the garden or on the balcony, your hands will smell strongly of leaves afterwards. Wasps do not like this smell and stay away. There is a clear advantage here: not only do you drive away the wasps, but you can also harvest delicious fruits from August. It is important that you fertilize heavy feeders in the right amount.

5. Lavender
While lavender is used to repel wasps, butterflies and bees enjoy the plant.

It's unlikely you'll be stung by a wasp in the vast lavender fields of Provence, France. They do not like the intense smell of plants. To plant lavender in your own garden or on your balcony, fertilizers should be avoided. Too many nutrients can cause the plant to stretch and lose its normally compact shape.

6. Melissa
Melissa smells good to a person.

Melissa's name already reveals what it is known for: a wonderful citrus aroma. This is why wasps stay away, as do other insects such as flies. The plant is considered easy to care for and unpretentious. Only a shady location and waterlogging should be avoided.

Want to know: How to get rid of ants?

7. Rosemary
A real all-rounder: rosemary repels wasps, enhances food flavor, and is good for your health.

Annoying breakfast wasps can also be easily warded off with rosemary. The plant is best grown in a pot. This is the easiest way to overwinter a non-hardy plant during the colder months. In a bucket, a drainage layer is indispensable. In this way, amateur gardeners can avoid waterlogging and subsequent root rot.

Bee drinkers help in the heat

2022-09-11

What smells repel wasps, what smells don’t like wasps, what smells bees are afraid of

Contents:

As soon as the summer comes, various insects become "neighbors" of people. Such a "neighborhood" can be both pleasant and not very pleasant, because some insects are beneficial, while others act as parasites or food for birds.

Please note! Bees are pollinators for flower plants and fruit trees, it is thanks to them that gardeners reap a good harvest. As for wasps, they practically do not have useful qualities. As food, these insects use the remains of beetles, and not plant pollen. If pollination occurred with their help, then this is an involuntary and isolated case.

Both bees and wasps quite often fly into residential premises - country houses, apartments, as well as in areas where there are pets and children. Painful stings of bees and wasps are often the causative agents of allergic reactions, which can even lead to death. Therefore, every person, and especially a summer resident or gardener, needs to know what smell repels wasps, how to deal with these insects in order to avoid their reappearance on the site.

How to scare wasps

Why it is necessary to fight against wasps

It is almost impossible to achieve a peaceful neighborhood and an "alliance" with insects such as wasps and bees. The final picture may look completely different, and arthropods can cause significant harm, both to humans and to the entire crop. If we consider the reasons why insects should be dealt with, then their list is as follows:

Please note! As mentioned above, insects form tunnels in large fruits, so the fruits must be carefully inspected before consumption. Otherwise, there is a risk of eating the fruit along with the insect, which will lead to unpleasant consequences.

What smells do not like wasps and how to scare them

Which honey is better, linden or flower

Specialists have found that wasps are repelled by strong and pungent odors, among which the aroma of mint and wormwood can be distinguished. Some summer residents believe that with the help of these plants it is possible to fight ticks and mosquitoes, but this is not always effective. If you dig the perimeter of a country house with wormwood, this can reduce the number of insects, but dangerous wasps and hungry mosquitoes will still enter the dwelling and harm a person. You can scare away wasps with the help of such strong chemical odors:

Important! If fumes of the above substances are constantly present and smell near a person, this can lead to headache, intoxication of the body and dizziness.

The use of various fumigators against wasps and bees is ineffective. Especially such a deterrent method will be useless in the fight against wasps - if insects have built a nest and laid larvae there, nothing can block its path to the house.

Smells found in products such as professional insecticides are also effective in repelling arthropods. Such products are not only unpleasant, but also dangerous for bees and wasps, so they do not risk appearing in the places of preventive pest control. Like any other animal, the wasp has strong self-preservation instincts. It is for this reason that if there is a vegetable garden, a garden or a flowering field near the house, it is recommended to regularly carry out preventive treatment against insects.

Fighting wasps

What scents attract wasps, what they flock to

In the process of fighting arthropods, it is imperative to know what smells serve as bait for them. So, insects can be attracted by the sweet aroma of fruit compote or jam, as well as food waste and rotting fruits. For this reason, the bin and jam must be tightly covered with a lid.

What kind of honey is not candied

If a hornet's nest was found nearby, in no case should one be afraid and make sudden movements that can not only attract, but also irritate wasps. This fact is due to the fact that the eyes of insects are distinguished by a special structure: even the slightest hesitation, such as waving a hand near a nest, can cause a person to attack.

Please note! Os is quite attracted to the scent of its own poison. If a person is stung by one wasp, one must be prepared for the fact that her "relatives" will attack. Various shades of aromas are attractive to insects, and they smell their own poison even at a great distance from its source.

It is worth noting that black color, wool and hair are also bait for arthropods, which can cause their anger. Such hatred can be associated with similar feelings towards bears and martens, which quite often destroy wasp nests.

How to scare away wasps: tips and tricks

A beekeeper's suit will protect against wasp and bee stings

Types of honey - what happens

Repelling wasps is a necessary measure in the fight against arthropods that have settled in a house or garden, thereby harming mature harvest. But before you start the procedure for the destruction of insects, you should be well prepared. For this purpose, you will need clothing made of dense fabric, which needs to cover all parts of the body. To protect your face, you need a mosquito net, and you need to put on gloves on your hands, pre-impregnated with an aroma that will scare away wasps.

Important! Before starting work, you need to make sure that there are no children and animals nearby. It is necessary to approach the solution of the problem in advance, otherwise, the swarm can acquire frightening dimensions.

Before you start scaring wasps, you need to choose the right strategy. You can resort to such a common method as dousing the hive with hot water. Or purchase a garden sprayer from which you can spray the nest with kerosene, diesel fuel and gasoline. It is recommended to use household chemicals (for example, Domestos, Dichlorvos or bleach), which should be used to treat the hive and those places where wasps most often accumulate.

For those who prefer natural preparations, experts recommend using some plants and herbs that have a scent that repels bees. One such effective crop is wormwood, which acts as an excellent natural repellant against arthropods. It needs to be planted on balconies or personal plots, which will help summer residents get rid of annoying buzzing for a long time.

Wormwood repels wasps well

It is worth noting that basil and marsh mint have good repellent properties, with which you can fight not only wasps and bees, but also flies, mites and mosquitoes. If the above methods seem ineffective, you can drive away insects with liquid smoke, which has a specific smell.

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